Members of the Roseville Heritage Foundation, the nonprofit that hosts the Roseville Gratiot Cruise, gather around the “rat rod” before Wednesday’s final committee meeting. RAY SKOWRONEK -- THE MACOMB DAILY

The second annual Roseville Gratiot Cruise comes at a time when the city’s main street is experiencing a burst of construction, yet this year’s cruise route will not include some of the town’s “hot spots.”

Organizers this year have expanded the Gratiot Avenue route, which last year took place between 11 Mile and 13 Mile roads but this year will go from 10 Mile to 13 Mile roads for Saturday’s event.

That means the procession of vintage vehicles will not go by some of Roseville’s newest businesses such as National Coney Island, or facilities under construction such as Macomb Mall. It will end at 13 Mile Road, where a new LA Fitness is being built and the renovated Haney Plaza, home of the 7-Eleven, Wing Stop and Batteries Plus Bulbs is located.

“My husband grew up cruising Gratiot, so we’re excited to be part of this,” said Lisa Beltowski, who co-owns Batteries Plus Bulbs with her husband, Greg. “I think Gratiot is on the cusp of an upswing with a lot of new businesses coming to town.”

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The cruise will also not pass by what is arguably the hottest properties in Roseville right now: Dooleys Irish Tavern, Hangover 2, Leo’s Coney Island and Hooter’s, which are all between Masonic Boulevard and 14 Mile Road.

Still, merchants realize plans call for the entire Gratiot strip to be included in the cruise fun at some point in the future.

“Baby steps,” said Dooleys owner Frank Sgroi, who has long endorsed an organized cruise and has weekly car shows in his parking lot. “I am sure the route will include us in the next few years. We’ve waited 20 years for this, it’s coming.”

Members of the Roseville Heritage Foundation, the non-profit group hosting the event, say restrictions imposed by the Michigan Department of Transportation for construction projects on Interstate 94 at Gratiot are the reasons why the cruise does not extend north of 13 Mile Road.

The presence of I-94 on Gratiot is one reason for the rebound of activity as it provides a fast way in and out of town, according to Mayor John Chirkun. Another factor is the city’s ongoing redevelopment plans for Gratiot and Groesbeck, as city officials work to get the word out about all that Roseville has to offer.

“Roseville is the hub of Macomb County as investors see the solid concentration of stores and restaurants along Gratiot and a freeway that provides an easy access,” said Chirkun, who along with Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, will serve as co-grand marshal on Saturday. “This is a great place to be.”

Cruise spokeswoman Amelia Hinds said the committee is looking for ways to draw attention to the stores north of 13 Mile Road through a scavenger hunt that will involve about eight businesses. The winner will receive a commemorative T-shirt.

“There are a lot of positives taking place in Roseville at this time and we believe the cruise is one way to show those off,” she said.

Several businesses, such as Dooleys, will still have activities on Saturday including a bounce house and giant slide for children.

The Roseville Gratiot Cruise will take place noon to 6 p.m. Saturday along Gratiot Avenue between 10 Mile and 13 Mile roads. For more information, visit rosevillegratiotcruise.com.